Alex Ovechkin Reveals Struggles Through the Toughest Situation of his NHL Career
PUBLICATION
MarcO
February 23, 2023 (9:38)
Recently, Alex Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals' star player, shared on Instagram the news of his father's passing. This was shortly after he had requested a personal leave of absence from the team to be with his family in Moscow, Russia.
After a week of mourning, Ovechkin returned to Washington and immediately joined the Caps' practice. In a press conference, he described the past week as "the toughest situation I've been through all NHL career.» He acknowledged the difficulty of his mental and physical state and shared that his mother and brother would be coming to the US next month to support him.
Ovechkin also spoke about his father, Mikhail, who had been his biggest supporter throughout his career. He expressed his desire to continue playing in his father's honor, saying:
"He gave me everything. All his health, all his time. He traveled with me all over the world and been at every practice when he had a chance."
Ovi remembered the happy times they shared, including celebrating the 2018 Stanley Cup victory together.
Despite the grief, Ovechkin shared that he feels fortunate to have videos and memories of his father, and reflected on his father's great sense of humor and positive energy.
"People who know him they're going to miss his smile, they're going to miss his energy."
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Previously on HockeyPatrol